(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The rightist Likud party remains ahead of its rivals in Israel, according to a poll by Maagar Mochot released by Channel 2. A prospective tally of seats shows Likud would get 32 seats in the Knesset in next month’s ballot, up two since late December.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The rightist Likud party remains ahead of its rivals in Israel, according to a poll by Maagar Mochot released by Channel 2. A prospective tally of seats shows Likud would get 32 seats in the Knesset in next month’s ballot, up two since late December.
The ruling Kadima party is second with 25 seats, followed by Labour with 17 mandates, the International Organization of Torah-observant Sephardic Jews (Shas) with 10 seats, and Israel Our Home also with 10 mandates.
In March 2006, Israeli voters renewed the Knesset. Kadima, founded by former prime minister Ariel Sharon and led by Ehud Olmert, secured 29 seats in the legislature. Labour, Shas and the Retired People’s Party (Gil) joined Kadima in a coalition. In October, the Israeli cabinet approved the addition of Israel Our Home to the Olmert-led government.
In May 2008, Israeli police raided the offices of Jerusalem’s city government and seized documents related to Olmert’s tenure as mayor, from 1993 to 2003. In July, Olmert announced that he would not participate in an extraordinary internal ballot for Kadima’s leadership. In September, Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni defeated transportation minister Shaul Mofaz in a close race to become Kadima’s new leader.
Livni was supposed to take over as Israel’s prime minister, but was unable to assemble a government. A snap election will take place on Feb. 10.
Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu served as prime minister from June 1996 to July 1999, and resigned from Sharon’s cabinet—where he held the finance portfolio—after opposing the "Disengagement Plan." Labour leader Ehud Barak—the current defence minister—headed the Israeli government from July 1999 to March 2001.
Last month, Knesset member Uri Ariel left the recently created Jewish Home party over disagreements related to policy. Ariel has reconstituted the National Union, under party leader Yaakov Katz.
Polling Data
Prospective results of a Knesset election
(Results presented in seats)
|
Jan. 6 |
Dec. 28 |
Dec. 15 |
|
|
Likud (Consolidation) |
32 |
30 |
29 |
|
Kadima (Forward) |
25 |
28 |
25 |
|
Labour |
17 |
16 |
10 |
|
International Organization of Torah-observant Sephardic Jews (Shas) |
10 |
10 |
12 |
|
Israel Our Home (Yisrael Beiteinu) |
10 |
10 |
12 |
|
Vitality-Together (Meretz-Yachad) |
6 |
7 |
10 |
|
Yahadut Hatorah (United Torah Judaism) |
5 |
5 |
6 |
|
Jewish Home (Habayit Hayehudi) |
4 |
n.a. |
n.a. |
|
National Union (HaIhud HaLeumi) |
2 |
n.a. |
n.a. |
|
Green Party (Yerukim) |
– |
1 |
4 |
|
Retired People’s Party (Gil) |
– |
1 |
1 |
|
Arab Parties |
9 |
10 |
9 |
Source: Maagar Mochot / Channel 2
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 514 Israeli adults, conducted on Jan. 6, 2008. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.
